At the Feet of Jesus

Good morning! Today, we’re going to be talking a lot about distractions and paying attention to what’s really important. (Hold up your cell phone.) Have you ever been trying to talk to a friend who was right in front of you, but that friend was too busy looking at their phone to pay attention to you?  (Pause for responses, and be ready with your own story.)

How did it make you feel when someone else was too distracted to listen to you?

It can be disappointing and frustrating when that happens. But let’s be honest…Have any of you been so distracted that you forgot to pay attention to a friend? Or that you lost sight of what was happening right in front of you? I know I have! (Pause for responses and share your own story.)

Being distracted isn't anything new and phones aren't the only reasons we get distracted. When Jesus walked the Earth, people didn’t have cell phones like we do. But that didn't keep people from becoming distracted. Our Bible lesson today tells a story about a woman who became distracted - even when Jesus was a guest in her home!

Jesus was in the village of Bethany where His friends Mary, Martha and Lazarus lived. Jesus went to their home to visit. Martha invited Him in and began to prepare dinner. While she was busy working away, her sister Mary just sat at the feet of Jesus and listened to the words He had to say. The Bible says Martha was too distracted by all the preparation that had to be done to listen to Jesus. She got upset with her sister and went to Jesus and said, "Lord, don’t you care that my sister has left me to do the work by myself? Tell her to help me!"

"Martha, Martha," Jesus said, "you are worried and upset about many things. But there is one thing that is the most important and Mary has discovered it." Martha was doing her best to make Jesus feel welcome in her home, but Mary had discovered something even more important. That was sitting at the feet of Jesus and receiving His words into her heart.

It is important for us to be careful that we don't get so busy doing activities - even good ones - that we forget to listen to Jesus’ words and take them into our heart. If we become too distracted, we just might miss the most important thing. 

Dear Jesus, help us to remember that You are the most important thing in our lives. Don't let us get so busy with other things that we forget to spend time with You. Amen.